Compassion In Kenya

Safe World Field Partner in Kenya - Compassion CBO, was formed to eradicate poverty through education and sustainable development among women living in the slums and rural areas and to rehabilitate orphans and vulnerable children.

Field Partner News

COFAPRI organised handwashing sessions for school children and mothers in rural villages, with the aid of educational DVDs kindly supplied by Thare Machi Education. The word has begun to spread as neighbours are now prompting each other to wash their hands.

Increased security helps women become self-reliant and less financially dependent on their husbands. This improves the situation for the whole family and also means the women are less vulnerable to abuse.

It remains very important within communities for men and boys to be educated regarding the rights of women and girls, including their proper, fair and respectful treatment. When the women and girls become empowered, it is the whole community that benefits.

In most parts of our society, the word “Feminism” still remains a bitter pill for so many people to swallow, however, to Wfac’s college SRHR Peer educators, the ‘F’ word is about change, empowerment of all and transforming lives.

Perhaps the most inspiring session for me came towards the end of the two days and was entitled ‘Bring back our girls – the forgotten victims of conflict’... We heard the CEO of International Alert, Harriet Lamb, and Victoria Nyanjura - who was kidnapped by…

Once upon a time in my country, Nigeria, there was a ruler who was dreaded by many... We resisted and said No to every oppressive action or word to any weak or voiceless Nigerian... This is the time to stand firm on what has held the world together - Love.

All the most prominent, biggest community and feminist movements to alleviate the sufferings of women and girls and support women’s involvement in education and leadership have been championed mostly by women...

I cannot ever vote for anyone who promotes misogyny, racism, Islamophobia, zenophobia, homophobia... It would be a mockery of my life... dishonoring my elders who have endured the many injustices of racial animosity, my friends who've experienced the same...

“Women United for a Better Community” is a new group of grassroots women in the Ayacucho Region at the South High Andean of Peru, recently created by Estrategia, a National Grassroots women's organization. The grassroots women require to be heard and get the…

On September 28th 2016 an Iranian appeals court upheld a 16-year sentence for 44 year old Narges Mohammadi, a prominent human rights defender. Mrs. Mohammadi is a key member of the campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, a lawyer by training,…

Afghanistan's first women-only Internet Cafe, named after Sahar Gul

Afghanistan's first women-only Internet Cafe, named after Sahar Gul - A Figure of Empowerment

Anita Haidary, YWC Co-founderSahar Gul is a name synonymous to empowered woman. She has been recognized as a tortured girl. Everyone saw her and felt sorry for her; no one saw the powerful woman inside her who still has hope in life and wants to live again. When we are scared, hurt, and tired of outside world, we spend time at home to heal the wounds given by outside world. Her wounds were given by her family. It is far from imagination what happens when a 13 year-old girl lost her last option of help, her family. It was her self- reliance that took her to this stage and gave her hope. It was her hope for life that kept her alive. She stood still and fought for her life; she rejected prostitution proposed by her husband and in-laws, knowing she had no way where to go back to.

Young Women for Change (YWC) decided to name Afghanistan's first all-women Internet cafe “SAHAR GUL:” it is named after her to remind every woman coming to internet café to remember how powerful a woman can be. Women like Sahar Gul are symbol of power and hope. Her name will be a reminder for all Afghan women to remember that no matter what, they have the right to stand up and start their lives all over again. They have the right to live - even if all doors are closed to their faces.

I remember the first time I heard about her in news, it took me a while to processes the news. It was really hard for me to understand a husband forcing his wife to prostitution. I was shocked and could not believe it; for me to understand and believe what really happened, I started talking about it to my parents with a shaking voice. The next day, Noorjahan, Nasima, Shahr Banu – YWC members and I went to see Sahar Gul. We were all not allowed to see her, the doctor allowed only two people. There was no hope in us; we still didn’t let it appear on our faces, but we knew it was not going to be easy. Though, all of us couldn’t see her we got a chance to talk to the relative who was there as her family. We sat there listening to him, telling us what happened to her. I was heartbroken by what happened to her and annoyed by seeing what went on the process in the hospital. Even though another wonderful organization, Women for Afghan Women, provided for the hospitalization and treatment of Sahar Gul, in the few times that we visited Sahar Gul, we tried to give her hope and love. After seeing everything, I and YWC believe she deserves to be called symbol of women power. Especially, after so much that she had to go through in such a young age.

We put a lot of thought in choosing the name for our internet café, and we suggested all Afghan women’s names that made history in Afghanistan. They are important and a source of energy, but she is a live example of powerful women in our generation. Her existence sends the message that one shouldn’t live just under any condition or give up because you can’t see any other option. There is always hope and options - we only need to fight and hold on to ourselves. The name Sahar Gul sends a message that every woman is strong enough to fight the battles in her life to survive.

Every time a woman comes to our internet café and sees the name, she will remember the power. They will always remember the fact that women are not only about what others describe them to be. Women are powerful; one doesn’t have to do great things, but just fighting for your right makes you brave and powerful enough. If all of us have the power to at least fight for ourselves, no one will dare to tell us that we are not capable.

Her name will be a reminder for people who torture other humans; her name will be a reminder to people to tell them, no matter how harsh you are, you will always fail to take us down. We will stand powerful and strong for our humanity and rights. Her name will stay among women, as symbol of power in history and as our internet cafes.